In The Daily Liberal Dubbo Catches: Local MP on Gin Gin Weir 12/5, Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders claimed “Reducing the water needed to be released from Burrendong dam to supply towns, farmers, stock and domestic users and irrigators will mean in increase in overall water allocations – including environmental allocations – providing further benefit [to] the Macquarie Marshes.”
In response, Healthy Rivers Dubbo has asked for some clarification:
Mr Saunders, can you please explain to your electorate how this weir, which if built will mean an increase in overall allocations (and therefore extraction) could possibly provide further benefit to the Macquarie Marshes?
Water (operational surplus) that currently flows through Warren to the Creeks, Marshes, Lower Macquarie and Barwon Darling will be caught by the weir. From this water, most will be for irrigation, and a little will be for the environment.
Mr Saunders, can you please explain how less water will provide further benefit to the Macquarie Marshes?
Last Wednesday we learnt how the Macquarie Marshes is one of the top two candidates in the Murray Darling Basin for a critically endangered ecological community listing. Staff were told by officials that the Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, would be unlikely to support the inclusion, and the recommendation was not made.
Knowing this, how can you continue to support a project that will place further pressure on the Ramsar listed, internationally significant Macquarie Marshes?
Melissa Gray
Convenor, Healthy Rivers Dubbo
12/5/2020
28/4/2020
Healthy Rivers Dubbo 